Child safety in a vehicle alert system and method

ABSTRACT

An alert system to assist in child safety in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle insert adapted to be inserted between the male and female parts of a standard safety belt found in most automobiles or for a child car safety seat. It may also include a portable receiver device designed to be carried by a vehicle operator. The seat belt buckle insert detects whether the seat belt has been buckled and the temperature is within an acceptable range, as well as the approximate distance between the seat belt buckle insert and portable receiver device. The seat belt buckle transmits information gathered to the portable receiver device and triggers alerts notifying the vehicle operator of a child&#39;s safety status.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, this application is a continuation of, andincorporates by reference for all purposes, U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/565,015, entitled “Child Safety in a Vehicle Alert System andMethod,” filed Sep. 9, 2019, and naming Jason Davis as inventor, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/195,270,entitled “Child Safety in a Vehicle Alert System and Method,” filed Nov.19, 2018, and naming Jason Davis as inventor, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/444,270, entitled “Child Safety in aVehicle Alert System and Method,” filed Feb. 27, 2017, and naming JasonDavis as inventor, which claims the benefit and priority of ProvisionalApplication No. 62/299,933, entitled “A Preventable Way of Saving KidsBeing Left in Cars Dying From Heat Stroke and Hypothermia . . . andCarbon Monoxide Poison,” filed Feb. 25, 2016, and naming Jason JamarDavis as inventor, all of which are incorporated by reference for allpurposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to child safety factors in vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, each year there are many children deaths related toimproper buckling or being left unattended in a vehicle. Children may goquiet after falling asleep or day care centers may lose track of a childin a vehicle while tending to other children. A vehicle operator maysubsequently forget a child was left unattended in a vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to one or more aspects of a system to beused with a vehicle seat or child car seat, for alerting vehicleoperator of the possibility of a child's presence in a vehicle that mayno longer be attended, and/or improper, and/or unsafe.

In an exemplary embodiment, a child safety vehicle alert system andmethod may substantially eliminate or reduce one or more disadvantagesand problems associated with previous systems and methods. The alertsystem can be adapted and used with any car seat, including a child carseat in a vehicle with standard safety belts.

In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, the alertsystem has two components. At least one is intended to be with thedriver of the vehicle or other adult passenger. The component devicesare portable and communicate with each other through wirelesstransmission. One component comprises a seat belt buckle insert, theinsert component configured to work with standard equipment seat beltsand seat belt buckles found in new cars sold in the United States and inmost other countries. The second component comprises a portablereceiver. The seat belt buckle insert transmits messages to the portablereceiver. The second component then generates a sensory signal that canbe perceived by a person carrying the second component. For example, thesensory signal can be a visual, audible, or other. In accordance withanother aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the seat belt buckle insertcontains sensors located on a male portion and a female portion of thebuckle insert for sensing the position latching of each portion to acomplementary portion of a safety belt. The seat belt buckle indicatesto the portable receiver attached to a vehicle operator's keys whether achild is properly buckled in a seat. The portable receiver deviceactivates a green light when a child is properly buckled, and activatesa red light when a child is improperly buckled.

In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the alertsystem also contains a temperature sensor within the seat belt buckleinsert. The temperature sensor determines whether the temperature withina vehicle is within a predetermined range. The predetermined temperaturerange is stored in a memory chip located inside the seat belt buckleinsert. The predetermined temperature range is set based on temperaturesdetermined to be acceptable for a child inside a vehicle. The seat beltbuckle insert transmits wireless communication regarding temperature tothe portable receiver with a vehicle operator. Should the temperaturerange determined by the seat belt buckle insert fall below, or exceedthe acceptable predetermined temperature range, a red light will beactivated on the portable receiver. Should the temperature in a vehicleremain within the acceptable predetermined range, a green light willremain activated on the portable receiver.

In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the alertsystem also contains a location monitoring system within the seat beltbuckle insert and the portable receiver. The location monitoring systemdetermines whether the distance between the seat belt buckle insert andthe portable receiver is exceeded. Should the predetermined distance beexceeded, the portable receiver will alert the vehicle operator byactivating a red light. Should the distance between the seat belt buckleinsert and portable receiver remain within the predetermined distance, agreen light will remain activated on the portable receiver.

The alert system is simple and inexpensive. The alert system worksuniversally with any car seat, or child car seat and is highly portable.The alert system further works with any vehicle, including oldermanufactured vehicles.

In an alternative embodiment, the buckle insert component comprisessoftware running on a mobile smart phone.

These and other aspects of the invention are attained with the alertsystem for alerting a vehicle operator of the presence and properbuckling of a child in a car seat, the alert system seat belt buckleinsert containing at least: a memory chip, location monitoring system,temperature sensor, wireless transmitter, central processing unit, andsensors coupled to the male portion and female portion of the seat beltbuckle insert. The sensors coupled to the male portion and femaleportion of the seat belt buckle insert configured to determine whetherthe seat belt buckle is properly buckled. The seat belt buckle insert'stemperature sensor configured to determine whether the vehicle'stemperature is within an appropriate predetermined temperature range.The seat belt buckle insert's location monitoring system configured todetermine whether the seat belt buckle insert and the portable receiverare within a predetermined distance from each other.

According to the above embodiments, said wireless transmitting andreceiving means each include separate power sources and each,respectively, are adapted to transmit and receive signals.

According to the above embodiments, there is provided a method ofwarning a vehicle operator that a child has been left buckled in a carseat comprising: connecting a seat belt buckle insert to a car seat beltor child car seat belt, said seat belt buckle insert also connecting tothe car seat buckle or child car seat buckle; determining whether theseat belt buckle is property buckled; further determining whether achild is safely buckled through sensors located on the female portionand male portion of the seat belt buckle; communicating whether the seatbelt buckle is properly buckled to a portable receiver; and activating alight indicator on the portable receiver device, wherein a green lightindicates to the vehicle operator that the seat belt buckle is properlybuckled, wherein a red light indicates to the vehicle operator that theseat belt buckle is not properly buckled.

According to another embodiment of the method, further comprising:detecting a distance between the seat belt buckle and the portablereceiver device; determining whether the location between the seat beltbuckle insert and the portable receiver exceeds a predetermined distancestored in a memory chip located within the seat belt buckle insert andthrough a location monitoring system; transmitting distance informationwirelessly to the portable receiver device; activating a light indicatoron the portable receiver device, wherein a green light indicates to thevehicle operator that the seat belt buckle is within the predetermineddistance from the portable receiver device, wherein a red lightindicates to the vehicle operator that the seat belt buckle insert isnot within the predetermined distance from the portable receiver.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a method furtherdetermining whether the temperature within a vehicle is within a certainpredetermined temperature range stored on the memory chip through atemperature sensor; transmitting temperature range informationwirelessly to the portable receiver; activating light indicators on theportable receiver configured to indicate to a vehicle operator whetherthe child is safely secured in a vehicle, whether the temperature rangewithin the vehicle is safe, and whether the distance between the seatbelt buckle insert and portable receiver is safe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a safety belt insert and car seat belt.

FIG. 2 illustrates a representative a key fob.

FIG. 3 is schematic illustration of a non-limiting example of circuitryand other components of the safety belt insert of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustration of a non-limiting example of circuitry and othercomponents of the key fob of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart describing a process for alerting the possiblepresence of a child using the safety belt insert of FIG. 1 and the keyfob of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like numbers refer to like elements.

Turning now to FIG. 1 illustrates how a seat belt insert 1 is used witha tongue (male component) 41 and buckle (female component) 42 of aconnector used to fasten two lengths 45 and 46 of a seat belt, such as aseat belt that is factory installed in passenger motor vehicles or oninfant car seats. The insert has a tongue 5 that inserts into the buckle42 of the seat belt connector, and a buckle 4 that is adapted to receiveand latch the tongue 41. A latch inside of the female buckle 42 locksthe tongue of the male 5 end in place and firmly secures the twocomponents together. The tongue 5 of the insert 1 is released bypressing the release button 43 on the buckle 42 of the seat belt, thatopens the latch (not visible). The buckle 4 end of the insert is adaptedto receive tongue 41 the seat belt, with its latch (not visible)released by pressing release button 3 on the insert 1 and pulling outthe tongue 41. The particular seat belt assembly configuration shown inthe figure has been provided as an example of one type of seatbeltassembly the seat belt straps 45 and 46, the tongue, and the buckle,other internal latching components of the connection can be constructedaccording to any one of a number of known designs.

A portable key fob 11, depicted FIG. 2, is an example of a portabledevice for communication with the insert. The insert 1 wirelesslytransmits, and the portable device receives from the insert 1, messagesindicating the state or condition of one or more of the following: (1)the latching of insert 1 with the car seat, as indicated by sensorslocated within the insert; and (2) one or more environmental conditions,such as ambient temperature, sensed by an environmental condition sensorin the insert. The portable device and the insert may also work togetherto determine whether the portable device is likely beyond at least apredetermined distance when the insert remains bucked in the seat belt,the predetermined distance. It may make this determination based on oneor more of: signal strength, changes in signal strength, and thedetection and non-detection of a signal.

In one embodiment, insert 1 and key fob 11 each have four correspondinglights. Lights 7 a and 7 b if the insert is powered on, if the key fob11 is the proper distance from the insert 1 the user will be notified bythe corresponding light 6 a/b. Lights 10 a and 10 b will illuminate,change color and/or exhibit a predetermined visual pattern if both themale and female end of the insert are properly engaged. Lights 9 a and 9b will illuminate to indicate the ambient temperature sensed by theinsert. For example, it may illuminate, or change colors, depending onwhether the temperature is within (or below or above) an acceptable,predetermined temperature or temperature range, or outside (or above orbelow) a predetermined, acceptable temperature or temperature range. Forexample, all four of these lights are illuminated by a color changingLED that displays a green color and red color. For the power lights 7 aand 7 b, a green color will be displayed when the insert and key fob arepowered on. The circuitry controlling power lights 7 a and 7 b willcause the lights to blink when the battery power displayed by either thekey fob power light 7 b or insert power light 7 a is less than apredetermined level, for example, a 25% of the battery's power. Thedistance indicator lights 6 a and 6 b will display a first color (forexample, green) when the key fob 11 is within a predetermined distancefrom the insert 1, or when the key fob can detect messages sent by theinsert; and it will display a red color on both the insert's light 6 aand key fob's light 6 b when the key fob 11 is outside of the presetdistance or range from insert 1. The seatbelt indicator lights 10 a and10 b will display a green color on both the insert's light 10 a and keyfob's light 10 b when the insert 1 is engaged with the seat belt at bothits male 5 and female 4 end. When either the male 5 of female 6 end ofthe insert 1 is not completely engaged with the seat, and the insert 1is powered on, both the insert's light 10 a and key fob's light 10 bwill display a red color to indicate to the user that the insert 1 isnot completely engaged with the seat belt. Finally, when the internaltemperature of the vehicle is outside of the predetermined temperaturerange, the insert temperature light 9 a and key fob temperature light 9b, a red color will be depicted on both lights. When the internaltemperature of the vehicle is within the predetermined temperaturerange, the insert temperature light 9 a and key fob temperature light 9b, a green color will be depicted on both lights.

FIG. 3 shows a non-limiting schematic diagram of circuitry comprisinginsert 1. A battery 23, which can consist of one or multiple batteries,powers the insert 1. Detector 17 comprises either a pressure switch thatis senses when the tongue 5 of the insert is pressed into the buckle 42of the car seat, or it can comprise a proximity detector that can sensea buckle 42. It may comprise, in alternative embodiments, other ways ofdetecting the insertion of the tongue 5 into a buckle. Detector 16 canbe one of a pressure switch, proximity detector, or a lever system thatactivates a switch, or other device that is, for example, moved by theinsertion of the tongue 41 of a seat belt into the buckle 4 of theinsert. The detectors 16, 17 are coupled with an input/output interface50, which communicates the conditions of the detector to CPU 19. Severalfunctions and processes of the insert are implemented, in thisillustrated example, by software stored in internal memory 20 executedby CPU 19. However, other implementations using hardware only, orhardware/software combinations, are possible. Based on the inputs of thedetectors 16 and 17, as well as the temperature sensor 30, the processesbeing performed by the CPU under direction of the software cause thelights (or other visual or sensory indicators) to change to indicate thestate of the insert. The insert 1 causes visual indicators to form andsend messages to fob 11 (or other portable device) wirelessly. Theinsert 1 can include an antenna 48 for transmitting. Transmissions arereceived by the key fob 11 through the key fob's internal antenna 62 andradio 53.

The insert 1 contains a temperature sensor 30 that is able to read theatmosphere surrounding the insert 1 when placed inside of a vehicle. Thetemperature sensor 30 can be a digital thermometer, thermocouple sensor,resistance temperature detector (RTD), thermistors, pyrometer, or othersimilar methods. When the temperature sensor 30 detects a temperaturethat is outside of the range of the operating software, a signal is sentto key fob 11 and the temperature light 9 a/b on both the insert 1 andkey fob 11 change colors from green to red. The signal is sent from theinsert to the key fob through a means of wireless communication such as4G, 3G, 2G, Bluetooth, RF, 802.11, AM or FM to the key fob 11. Theinsert 1 can include an antenna 48 for radio transmissions as well.Transmissions are received by the key fob 11 through the key fob'sinternal antenna 62, radio 53, or wifi 60.

In one example, the insert 1 and the key fob 11 each include a BluetoothLow Energy 4.0 radio to communicate. When the key fob 11 is separated byat least a predetermined distance from the insert 1, the distanceindicator light 6 a/b on both the insert 1 and key fob 11 will turn fromgreen to red.

Anytime the user is alerted through one of the four indicator lights onthe key fob 11, an accompanying alarm is also sounded through the keyfob's speaker 66 to notify the user that a change in condition hasoccurred.

A portable electronic device can be used in place of the key fob 11. Thedevice would include a wireless receiver and, optionally, a transmitter.The portable electronic device may include an enabledlocation-determining device, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS)device, a triangulations device, or through Wi-Fi assessment, forproviding location information to the insert 1. An application runningon, for example, a “smartphone” or similar type of device could serve asthe portable electronic device for receiving messages from the insertand notifying the user of one or more of conditions associated with theinsert, such power of the insert, seatbelt status, temperature of thevehicle, and distance from the insert 1.

FIG. 5 describes a monitoring and alert process 500 after a child isbuckled into a car seat at step 502 using the insert 1. The insert 1 isattached between the male 41 and female 42 ends of a vehicle's seat belt45, 46 or a child car seat. The indicators 10 a and 10 b will notify theuser of the detectors 16,17 (see FIG. 2) as the insert 1 monitors theproper buckling of the vehicle or child seat belt at step 504. If theinsert is properly attached at step 506, the alert system will activateat step 508 and a portable device will indicate that it has beenactivated by, for example, indicating turning on or changing the colorof a status light on the key fob, or by changing a notificationgenerated by an application on a smartphone. If the insert 1 is notproperly connected to both the tongue and the buckle of a car seat, theuser can be advised by a status light, for example a red light on thekey fob, as indicated by step 510. The user can also be notified audiblyof the status of the insert and additional information generated by theinsert by a sound from the key fob's 11 speaker 66. While the insert 1is properly attached, the alert system is active, as indicated by step508, and the seat belt insert 1 will monitor whether key fob 11 iswithin a predetermined, acceptable range. The key fob 11 will indicateto the user that it is within an acceptable range by, for example,displaying a visual indicator, such as a green light, 524. If the fobwill indicate, for example, with a red light 526 when it is outside ofan acceptable range from the insert 1. The user can also be notified bya sound from the key fob's 11 speaker 66. While the alert system insert1 is active 508, the temperature within the vehicle will be monitored atstep 512. The alert system will determine if the temperature is within apredetermined safe range at step 514. It will indicate to the user witha green light 516 if the temperature is within a safe range, and willindicate to the user with a red light 518 when the temperature isoutside of the safe range. The user can also be notified by a sound fromthe key fob's 11 speaker 66.

The foregoing description is of exemplary and preferred embodiments. Theinvention, as defined by the appended claims, is not limited to thedescribed embodiments. Alterations and modifications to the disclosedembodiments may be made without departing from the invention. Themeaning of the terms used in this specification are, unless expresslystated otherwise, intended to have ordinary and customary meaning andare not intended to be limited to the details of the illustrated ordescribed structures or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of alerting a user of safety of a personby an alert system comprising a safety device, the method comprising:determining, by a first sensor of the safety device, that a portion ofthe safety device is connected to a portion of a safety belt; inresponse to the determining by the first sensor, transmitting wirelesslyby a wireless transmitter that the safety belt is connected to thesafety device; wherein the wireless transmitter is disposed inside aninterior cavity of the safety device.
 2. The method of claim 1, furtherincluding: detecting a distance between the safety device and a portablereceiver device, and alerting the user when the distance is outside apredetermined acceptable range.
 3. The method of claim 1, furtherincluding: determining whether a temperature detected by a second sensorof the safety device is within a predetermined acceptable range.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further including: alerting the user when thetemperature is out of said predetermined acceptable range.
 5. The methodof claim 2, further including wirelessly communicating with aprogrammable cellular telephone comprising the portable receiver device,wherein the alerting comprises an indication provided by theprogrammable cellular telephone.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thealerting comprises an indication provided by at least one of a LED ofthe safety device and an LED of the portable receiver device.
 7. Analert system to monitor safety comprising: a portable monitoring deviceconfigured to connect to a safety belt, the portable monitoring devicecomprising: a connecting portion for releasably connecting with a safetybelt; a sensor for sensing connection of the connecting portion of theportable monitoring device to the safety belt; a wireless transmitter inthe portable monitoring device and configured to transmit alertmessages, wherein the alert messages are generated by the portablemonitoring device indicating a connection status of the portablemonitoring device with the safety belt.
 8. The alert system of claim 7,further comprising a temperature sensor configured to determine atemperature and to determine whether the temperature of the portablemonitoring device is within a predetermined acceptable temperature rangeand, wherein the portable monitoring device alerts a user when thetemperature is outside of the predetermined range.
 9. The alert systemof claim 7, wherein the portable monitoring device contains a pluralityof visual indicators configured to indicate a connection status of theconnecting portion with the safety belt.
 10. The alert system of claim7, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the alert messages to anapplication running on programmable cellular telephone for displayingmessages from the portable monitoring device.
 11. The alert system ofclaim 7, wherein the portable monitoring device is connected to a childsafety seat.
 12. The alert system of claim 7, wherein the wirelesstransmitter in the portable monitoring device is a cellular datatransmitter.
 13. The alert system of claim 7, wherein the alert messagesare generated by the portable monitoring device further indicating thatthe portable monitoring device has exceeded a predetermined distancefrom a portable wireless receiver.
 14. The alert system of claim 7,wherein the portable monitoring device contains a plurality of visualindicators configured to indicate that the portable monitoring devicehas exceeded a predetermined distance from the portable wirelessreceiver.
 15. An alert system to monitor safety comprising: a monitoringdevice configured to connect to a safety belt, the monitoring devicecomprising: a connecting portion for connecting with the safety belt; asensor for sensing connection of the connecting portion of themonitoring device to the safety belt; and a transmitter configured totransmit a connection status of the portable monitoring device with thesafety belt.
 16. The alert system of claim 15, further comprising atemperature sensor configured to determine a temperature and todetermine whether the temperature of the monitoring device is within apredetermined acceptable temperature range, and wherein the monitoringdevice alerts a user when the temperature is outside of thepredetermined range.
 17. The alert system of claim 15, wherein thesensor comprises a proximity sensor for sensing a buckle of the safetybelt.
 18. The alert system of claim 15, wherein the monitoring device isconnected to a child safety seat.
 19. The alert system of claim 15,wherein the wireless transmitter in the monitoring device is a cellulardata transmitter.
 20. The alert system of claim 15, wherein the alertmessages are generated by the monitoring device further indicating thatthe monitoring device has exceeded a predetermined distance from aportable receiver.